Japan-Brazil Relations
Foreign Minister Kamikawa's organization of an exchange meeting discussing "WPS + Innovation in Rio"
On February 22, commencing at 8:05 p.m. (local time; 8:05 a.m. on February 23 JST) for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, organized a dialogue titled “WPS + Innovation in Rio”. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Kamikawa stated that, amidst the complex crises facing the world, it is important to discuss peace, stability, and prosperity as inseparable elements. She pointed out that the correction of poverty and inequality, which are major threats to peace and stability, is a priority issue at the G20, and told that she would like to exchange views with the female leaders present here, who are active in various sectors of the Brazilian society, on approaches to these social issues and the role WPS can play in addressing them.
- In the session, Ms. Elika Takimoto, Member of the State Assembly of Rio de Janeiro, Ms. Joyce Trindade, Director of the Women's Advancement Promotion Bureau of the City of Rio de Janeiro , Ms. Suzana Kahn, Dean of Engineering Department of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and Ms. Silvana Nagai, judo instructor, made remarks regarding social issues such as poverty, environmental problems, and women's social advancement, sharing women's perspectives based on their on-site experiences in various fields in Brazil.
- In closing, Minister Kamikawa stated that it was a great opportunity to have a dialogue with Nikkei women who play great roles in Brazil, which made her renew her appreciation for the bond between the two countries and stressed the importance of education. She also stated that she would like to welcome the participants as a member of the WPS network. Furthermore, Minister Kamikawa stated that she was pleased to have this opportunity to listen to the valuable opinions of the participants in a relaxed atmosphere, and that she would definitely like to utilize them in Japan’s efforts on WPS in the future.
In 2000, for the first time in the Security Council’s history, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted "Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Resolution 1325," which clearly stated that international peace, conflict prevention and conflict resolution require the equal participation of women, protection from sexual violence in conflict, and gender equality. To implement this and subsequent resolutions, Japan has so far formulated action plans three times and implemented them.